OneDrive – Shared folders can no longer sync locally since yesterday

Anonymous
2025-03-06T21:28:30+00:00

I have been experiencing an issue with the synchronization of shared OneDrive folders that started yesterday. Until now, I could successfully add shared folders to my OneDrive and have them sync locally, but now the folder is only appearing as a shortcut/link and is no longer treated as a regular folder in my OneDrive storage.

Problem:

  • Until yesterday, I could add shared folders to my OneDrive folder, and they would automatically sync so I could use the files directly on my PC.
  • Since yesterday, the shared folder is now only appearing as a link/shortcut, and it is not syncing locally.
  • The folder remains visible as an online link in the OneDrive Explorer, but I can't use it as a normal folder.
  • This affects all shared folders, both from external users and internal ones.
  • This change occurred suddenly on March 5, 2025, and was not present before.

What I have tried:

  1. Added the folder for synchronization again: This results in a link, not an actual sync.
  2. Updated the OneDrive client: I have installed the latest version of OneDrive, but the problem persists.
  3. Reinstalled OneDrive: I uninstalled and reinstalled OneDrive to fix any potential issues, but the problem remains.
  4. Cleared cache and stored credentials: This did not resolve the issue either.
  5. Checked the settings for a solution: I have reviewed all relevant options, but haven’t found a solution.

Questions:

  1. Was this feature intentionally changed by Microsoft, or is this a bug?
  2. Is there any way to reverse this change or make shared folders sync locally again like before?
  3. Is it possible to sync shared folders without the online link appearing?
  4. What steps should I take to resolve this issue?

Additional Information:

  • I am using OneDrive for Personal and syncing multiple folders from different users.
  • The files are still available online, but I am no longer able to use them offline as I did before.

I would greatly appreciate your assistance in resolving this issue. Thank you for your support!

Microsoft 365 and Office | OneDrive | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-10T08:12:26+00:00

    On my Laptop (windows 11 operating system) an entire shared folder first disappeared. Then the folder reappeared, but renamed with the PC name (for example, if it used to be “folder name” it is now “folder name_PC name”): it seems that this folder synchronizes however only on my onedrive and is no longer connected to its source. Within this new folder, all the subfolders appeared, but with no contents (no files inside them). I realized only after a day that in the OneDrive path (local folder) where all synchronized folders are located, the link described by other users appeared, with which I can access only the online content, but with no possibility of local synchronization.

    Update March 18, 2025:
    The link has been replaced with a working, synchronized folder. The only difference from before, is that it is no longer visible (and thus selectable/deselectable for synchronization) from OneDrive settings: maybe because I am not the owner of the folder? Mystery...

    In the past few days, however, I found files within the folders, which we had to rearrange or correct because they were reporting internal errors (the files had been automatically renamed to “filename”_2025-DESKTOP).

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-03-10T05:21:29+00:00

    I’m experiencing a serious issue with OneDrive. I can’t access any of my files or photos from any device. My storage plan shows 500GB used out of 1TB, but no files appear, and I receive an error message saying ‘Nothing found.’ This includes my Personal Vault, which contains a decade of important information. I need urgent assistance in recovering my data.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-03-09T20:58:14+00:00

    It happened one of my pc 6 months ago, and it attacks the second pc yesterday. It is horrible...
    Such a message of known issue was from Microsoft 6 months ago and so on.. cannot believe MS still cannot fix it.
    Just found the third PC also cannot sync shared file/folder on local drive. All dead!!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-03-08T09:41:58+00:00

    Why Microsoft has not taken the decision to roll back the "configuration" to the version from the day the files and folders synchronization started to fail?

    what is the ETA for the fix?

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-03-07T13:12:26+00:00

    As mentioned here its reuploading already synced files and folders (even recursively as mentioned in the comment) https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/onedriveforbusiness/weird-serious-problem-with-shared-folders-in-personal-onedrive-after-windows-10-/4390004

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